Method of Packaging Candy for Forming Gifts and Keepsakes

ABSTRACT

A method allows candy to be sold in customized bottles to form gifts and keepsakes. The bottle and candy can be form a “pill” motif. Candy selected by the customer is placed in a bottle. The bottle appears like a pill bottle. The customer selects a label from a plurality of labels to reflect a given event, mood, or message. The message in the label can have a pill or medicine related theme. The overall product becomes a customized gift or keepsake by virtue of adding the customized label.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/358,692, filed Jun. 25, 2010.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to methods for selling and packaging candy.

2. Description of the Related Art

In prior-art “penny” candy stores, candy is sold. The candy is kept in bins. Each type of candy is kept in a separate bin. A purchaser or shopkeeper scoops candy from the bin and places the scooped candy into a bag. The candy is purchased where the price is set by the weight of the candy. Alternatively, the candy is prepackaged and sold by the package.

Candy has been sold in bottles. The bottles have labels about the contents of the bottle. The candy and the label are placed on the bottle at the factory before delivery to the retailer. The labels on the prepackaged bottle describe the particular candy filled in the bottle by the factory.

Packaging for candy that is made by the candy manufacturer and filled at the factory usually has a label about the candy and it manufacturer. However, the packaging does not have a customized message from the purchaser.

Usually, candy is packaged in expensive and disposable packages. Even when the factory uses packaging that is a keepsake, the keepsake is designed by the manufacturer and is meant to capture sentiments chosen by the manufacturer.

Penny candy is typically scooped into plain paper bags. The lightweight bags are lightweight and make tarring a scale simpler.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method for packaging and selling candy that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method by which candy is sold in a customizable bottle. The bottle is customized by the customer to reflect an event, message, or mood. The packaging and candy become more than mere candy, the customized label turns the candy and bottle into a customized gift or keepsake.

The overall concept is to provide a candy store that is based on a pill theme. The candy can be in pill-shaped form. The candy can be placed in bottles that resemble pill or vitamin bottles. Stickers can be added to the bottles that include messages and jokes that are inspired by a pill or medicine theme.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of packaging candy, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1A-1H are front side views of embodiments of a bottle according to the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2G are rear side views of embodiments of bottles according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a packaging holding a bottle according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the packaging shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a pillbox according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front side view of a sticker sheet according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart depicting the method according to the invention.

FIGS. 8A-8K are diagrammatic front side views of front labels according to the invention.

FIGS. 9A-9B are diagrammatic front side views of rear labels according to the invention.

FIGS. 10A-10L are diagrammatic front side views of labels according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a photograph of a vitamin bottle.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a pill bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 7 thereof, there is seen a flowchart depicting the steps of a method of packaging candy for providing a user-customized gift or keepsake.

Before describing the method, the preferred embodiments of the physical devices and locations are described.

The preferred embodiment of a store for conducting the method is a retail shop. Other embodiments of the store include a department or counter within a store that sells additional goods or services. The method can be performed at a kiosk. The method can be performed through an online store (i.e. a website) and fulfilled at a remote location, then shipped to the recipient.

The store sells empty bottles 30. Bins of candy (which are not shown) are included within the store. Labels 40 and 50 are sold in the store. The labels 40 and 50 are not yet attached to the bottles 30.

FIGS. 1-2 show preferred embodiments of the bottle 30. The bottle 30 has a mouth 35. The bottle is preferably made of a clear polymer material. The bottle has a lower groove 31, lower flange 32, upper groove 33, and upper flange 34. A lid assembly 20 is placed on the bottle 30. The lid assembly 20 includes a lid 21, a frangible seal 22, a collar 23 that seats in the upper grove 33, a collar 23 that seats in the lower groove 31 and a connector 24 that connects the collar 23 to the lid 21.

FIG. 11 show a vitamin bottle 30 that is an embodiment of bottle that could be used. FIG. 12 shows a pill bottle 30 that is another embodiment of bottle that could be used.

FIGS. 8A-8K show embodiments of labels 40. The labels 40 have adhesive backings. Preferred embodiments of the front of the labels 40 include branding information 41, a logo 42, and a message 43. The branding information 41 can be the name or logo (i.e. trademark) of the retailer or manufacturer. Likewise the logo 42 can provide an alternate or additional trademark. The message 43 is a message for the person receiving the bottle (i.e. the purchaser or gift recipient). Different messages 43 can be presented. The purchaser selects a desired message 43. In one preferred embodiment, the message 43 can involve a joke about medicine or pills. In another embodiment, the customer can provide his or her own message and have that message printed onto the label 40.

By providing a custom message on the label 40, the customer can produce a container 10 that is customized for them. The customized product adds value to the product in the customer's opinion beyond the value of the candy. Plus, the act of selecting and creating the container (visa vie the label 40) is an enjoyable process to most customers.

In an embodiment that is not shown, the label 40 can include an additional page that can peel from the adhesive backing. In this way, the page can be opened like a gift card. Additional messages can be printed or written within the booklet.

FIGS. 9A-9B show embodiments of labels 50. The labels 50 have adhesive backings. Preferred embodiments of the exterior of the labels 50 include a message 51. The message 51 is a message for the person receiving the bottle (i.e. the purchaser or gift recipient). Different messages 51 can be presented. The purchaser selects a desire message 51. In one preferred embodiment, the message 51 can involve a joke about medicine or pills.

FIG. 7 shows the steps of the method. In step 401, a store is provided. In step 402, the store makes a variety of candy available for purchase. In step 403, the store offers different size and shape bottles for sale. In step 404, the store offers a variety of labels 40 and 50, which are not adhered yet to the bottles 30. In step 405, the purchaser selects the candy and fills the bottle. A single type or variety of candy can be placed in the bottle 30. In step 406, a label 40 is selected. The label 40 is selected by the purchaser to reflect a message, mood, or event. The customer also selects a rear label 50 from a group of available labels 50. The process of providing various labels for selection is similar to greeting cards; the customer selects labels 40, 50 to match a particular mood, message, or occasion. In step 407, the label or labels 40 and 50 are placed on the bottle 30 by removing a backing and then placing the adhesive side of the label on the bottle 30. In step 408, the customer pays for the candy based on the size of the bottle 30. The cost of the labels 40 and 50 can be included in a flat rate or sold ala carte.

FIGS. 3-4 show an embodiment of a package 100 that can be sold with pre-labeled bottles of candy. The package 100 includes a transparent box 110. A platform 120 is placed in the bottom of the package 100. A label 130 is placed on the front of the platform 120. The label 130 includes a logo 131. The label 130 includes a message 140. The message 140 is inspiration or humorous text that makes the product a valuable gift or keepsake. In its preferred form, the message 140 is a humorous message related to pills or medicine. A container 10, as previously described, is placed within the box 110 on the platform 120.

The package 100 can be sold as a preconfigured unit within the store or assembly by the customer.

FIG. 5 shows a container 200 in a pill case configuration. The pill case configuration is an array of small sub-containers. Each sub-container is a hopper that can be filled with candy. A lid 201 is opened by opening latches 202. When the lid is opened, candy can be inserted or removed in the sub-containers. Stickers 203 are placed on the lid 201 over each sub-container. The stickers 203 include a day 204, a logo 205, and a message 206.

FIG. 6 shows a sticker sheet 300. The sticker sheet 300 includes a plurality of stickers 301 on a single backing. The stickers 301 are removed and can be placed on containers 10 or 200. The stickers are selected by the user to customer the look and message on the container. FIGS. 10A-10L show embodiments of stickers 301 that have been broken into individual stickers for sale as individual units. 

1. A method of packaging candy for providing a user-customized gift or keepsake, which comprises: providing a bottle for holding candy; providing a plurality of labels, each of the labels being associated with a different message, mood, or event; selecting at least one of the labels based on the message, mood, or event; and attaching the label to the bottle.
 2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises filling the bottle with candy by a customer.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the label includes a message, said message involving medicine.
 4. A system for producing keepsake bottles of candy, comprising: a container being configured to hold candy; and a plurality of labels, each of said having a different respective sentiment expressed thereon, each of said labels having an adhesive disposed thereon, said adhesive being configured to attach a respective one of said plurality of labels to said container;
 5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising candy to be stored in said container.
 6. The system according to claim 4, wherein said labels do not describe the candy to be stored.
 7. A retail store for selling customer customized keepsakes, comprising: candy; an empty bottle being configured to store said candy; a plurality of labels, said labels not being connected to said empty bottle, each of said labels having a different respective sentiment expressed thereon, each of said labels having an adhesive disposed thereon, said adhesive being configured to attach a respective one of said plurality of labels to said container; said candy, said empty bottle, and at least one of said labels being purchasable by a customer to be assembled into a keepsake.
 8. A keepsake customized by a customer of a candy store, said keepsake being made according to a method that comprises: selecting a bottle while at the candy store, said bottle being configured to hold candy; selecting a label from a plurality of pre-printed labels, said label not being initially connected to said bottle, each of said labels having a different respective sentiment expressed thereon, each of said labels having an adhesive disposed thereon, said adhesive being configured to attach a respective one of said plurality of labels to said container; adhering said label to said bottle; and disposing said candy into said bottle.
 9. The keepsake according to claim 8, wherein said label does not describe said candy being disposed in said bottle. 